Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)

It is hard to believe that, in 2025, we are introducing a trade union recognition Bill and that there is a need for it, but that is the world we live in. I thank my colleagues in People Before Profit-Solidarity for tabling it.

We all know about the headwinds and all the other terms that are used as regards tariffs and the dangers relating to AI, and we all accept that. Unfortunately, however, we have a Government that has gone straight for the jugular on workers' rights. We were promised the introduction of a living wage in 2026, which will now happen in 2029 at the earliest. Pension auto-enrolment was meant to happen in September 2025 and is now paused indefinitely. The statutory paid sick leave entitlement was due to increase from five days to seven, but that has been delayed indefinitely. We were able to take that action pretty fast.

We know the issues with bogus self-employment. Many in the film sector talk about the blackballing that needs to be dealt with and we need engagement from unions to deliver on that. It is also a significant issue in the construction sector and probably affects our ability to actually deliver. We have all dealt with employees who do not have trade union recognition or a right to collective bargaining, and in moments of difficulty, they are forced into a situation of having to select individual workers from the point of view of being able to attempt to negotiate, sometimes against world class teams put forward by-----

See this speech in context